FIFA download launch sales spike 31% over last year | UK Digital Charts

FIFA 21's digital download launch sales are the biggest in the franchise's history, jumping up by almost a third over the 2020 edition.

That's according to the latest GSD data on the UK games market.

The digital performance almost makes up for a decline in physical sales, which were down by 42% as reported by GfK. Indeed, when you consider this is a console transition year where some people will be holding off their FIFA purchases until the arrival of PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, it looks like another strong performance for EA's football game. EA is allowing customers to upgrade for free from their PS4/Xbox One versions to the PS5/Xbox Series S/X versions when they're available, but we should still expect an uptick in FIFA sales when the new machines arrive next month.

This is the first time a console FIFA game has sold more digitally than it has physically.

Elsewhere in the digital charts, a hefty discount on Assassin's Creed Odyssey on the PlayStation Store sees that game return to the Top Five at No.4. Meanwhile, a series of Sega PC promotions has helped Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 return to the top ten. Other Sega titles to spike up the charts include Yakuza, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 3.

Last week's No.1, Star Wars Squadrons, drops to No.2, while Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is at No.3.

Here is the GSD Top Ten for the week ending October 10th:

Digital data includes games from participating companies sold via Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Nintendo Eshop. Participating companies are Activision Blizzard, Anuman, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Focus Home Interactive, Koch Media, Microsoft, Milestone, Nacon, Paradox Interactive, Sega, Sony, Square Enix, Take-Two, THQ Nordic, Ubisoft and Warner Bros.